Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Most people are self-conscious. For example, we will make sure we look presentable before an important meeting, but are you also self-coconscious when it comes to meeting with God?
Some Christians believe that the states of their lives or their lifestyles make them unworthy to approach God. Meanwhile, some measure their worthiness based on their performance against the law, which sadly is doomed to fail because nobody can measure up to God’s standard completely, for it is written in Romans 3:23 (NJKV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Therefore, we should stop using our own strength to try and obtain a right standing before God. Instead, we need to have a paradigm shift from being self-conscious to righteousness-conscious—conscious of who we are in Christ, so we can approach the throne of grace with confidence and boldness.
Philippians 3:9 (NKJV) And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Just as Abel had faith that the atonement by the blood of an animal enabled him to approach God, we should also have faith that we are accepted and seen as righteous in Christ to approach the Heavenly Father daily. Our ability to approach the throne boldly is based on our righteousness in Christ—the righteousness which is from God by faith, and not by the works of the law. It is impossible to obtain righteousness based on our own strength. All our righteousness acts are like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6).
We need to have the conviction that we are saved purely by the grace of God; there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more and nothing we have done that will make Him love me less. This biblical conviction is established on the following truths.
In Christ, I have become the righteousness of God because God has made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for me. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
In Christ, I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
In Christ, I am freely justified by His grace through His redemption. (Romans 3:24)
In Christ, I have been made accepted by God the Father. (Ephesians 1:6)
In Christ, I am reconciled to Himself for He has made peace through the blood of His Cross. (Colossians 1:20)
We have boldness to enter God’s presence through the blood of Jesus Christ—a new and living way, which He consecrated for us, through the veil, which is His flesh—knowing that our Heavenly Father will accept us based on Christ’s achievement.
Sermon Series: The Power of the Blood (Part 2)
从自我意识到公义意识
希伯来书4:16 所以,我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前,为要得怜恤,蒙恩惠,做随时的帮助。
多数人都是自我意识的,比如,我们会在参加重要会议前刻意打扮,为得好印象,但是当我们要与神会面时,我们是否也具备这自我意识?
有些基督徒相信他们的生命光景或生活方式使他们不配就近神。同时,有些人以律法为标准下的表现来衡量自己的价值,可惜的是这注定失败,因为没有人可以全然符合神的标准,因为在罗马书3:23中说到“因为世人都犯了罪,亏缺了神的荣耀”。所以我们应该停止用我们自身的力量试图在上帝面前获得一个合法的身份,相反,我们需要有一个范式的转变,从自我意识转为公义意识—意识到我们在基督里是谁,这样我们才能满怀信心刚强壮胆地来到施恩宝座前。
腓立比书3:9 并且得以在他里面,不是有自己因律法而得的义,乃是由信基督的义,就是因信神而来的义
就如亚伯曾有信心认为凭着一只动物的血的赎罪他可以去到神前,我们应该同样有信心相信在基督里我们被接纳并在基督内被看为公义,我们之所以能够坦然无惧地来到神的施恩宝座前,是基于我们在基督里的义—这义是我们凭着信心从神而来,而非凭着律法的工作。凭我们自己的力量是没法获得公义的。我们全部的义行在神的面前有如一块肮脏的破布(以赛亚书64:6)
我们必须有坚定的信念,相信我们得救纯粹是出于神的恩典,我们无法做任何事使祂爱我们更多,我们曾经的作为也无法令祂少爱我们一些些,这个依据圣经的信念是基于以下的真理。
在基督里,我已成为神的义,因为神使那无罪的耶稣为我而成了罪。(哥林多后书5:21)
在基督里,我们借这爱子的血得蒙救赎,过犯得以赦免,乃是照祂丰盛的恩典。(以弗所书1:7)
在基督里,我蒙神的恩典,靠着祂的救赎,就白白地称义。(罗马书3:24)
在基督里,靠着父神,我已蒙悦纳。(以弗所书1:6)
在基督里,祂既已经藉着十字架上的血成就了和平,就亲自与我和好了。(歌罗西书1:20)
我们可以藉着耶稣基督的宝血—那条祂为我们分别为圣的又新又活的道路,穿过幔子—祂的血肉之躯,了然于胸我们的天父将会凭借基督所成就的来接纳我们,坦然无惧地进入神的同在。
讲章系列:宝血的大能(第二部分)
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